Horseless carriage.



No; 672,7!3. v Patented Apr. 23, |901.

'E. SANCHIS.

HOBSELESS CARRIAGE.

(Application Med Dec. 3. 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 672,7l3. Patented Apr. 23, 190|. E. SANCHIS.

HRSELESS CARRIAGE.

(Application led Dec. 3, 1900.)

2 Shams-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

W/TNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ENRIQUE SANOHIS, OF MADRID, SPAIN.

HORSELESS CARRlAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,713, dated Apr123, 1 901.

` Application led December 3; 1900. Serial No. 38,511. (No model.)

`which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to horseless carriages, and particularly to that class in which the motor is mounted upon a fore-carriage.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, strong, and easily-steered construction of the above-indicated class.

The invention will be fully described hereinafter and the features of novelty pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure 1 is a plan of the running-gear of the carriage with parts in section. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the fore-carriage with parts in section on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 isa crosssection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4L is a side elevation showing a spring-support for the motor.

The running-gear consists of a body provided with wheels, and the rear part of the carriage may be constructed in any approved manner. As shown, it comprises a rear axle A, with rear wheels A and acentral longitudinal or reach member A2, connected pivotally with the fore-carriage, so that each part can swing relatively to the other about an axis extending lengthwise of the running-gear- The fore-carriage comprises an axle B, having an open enlarged central portion B of oval shape,and rearwardly-con verging braces B2, which meet at a socket B2. Ball-bearings C C are preferably located at the socket B3 and at the rear member of the oval portion B to journal the reach-rod A2. The outer ends of the axle B are forked, the fork ment ber B4 being superposed, as shown best in Fig. 1, and to each lower fork member is attached a link D, (preferably pivotally,) and the lower end of the link is connected with one end of an upwardly-convexed semi-elliptical supporting-sprin g E. The central portion of this spring its into the oval portion B of the axle and has vertical play therein. The cent-ral portion of the spring E is connected, by hoops E2 or other means which pass through the oval portion B', with the central portion of a downwardly-convexed semi-elliptical spring E', the ends of which are attached to the upper ends of links D', connected at their lower ends with rods F or other parts for supporting the carriage-body. (Not shown.)

The fork members B4 receive the alining vertical pivots Gr of a motor frame or casing H, which contains a motor, (not shown,) preferably an electric motor, and to the casing are secured two spaced Vertical plates H', and between said plates is mounted centrally on the motor-shaft I a pinion l', in mesh with gear-wheels I2, jonrnaled at I3 on the plates H. The Wheels I2 engage interiorly with a toothed rim J, rigidly connected or integral with the hub K/ of the front wheel K, said hub being mounted to turn on an axle H2, projected outwardly from the outer plate I-l.

To turn the wheels K for the purpose of steering the carriage, I provide lugs H3 on the frame H, and said lugs may be connected by a rod L and operated by anysuitable steering mechanism.

To protect the gearing, I prefer to provide a tubular case M, secured to axle B by supports N and connected by a llexible bellows portion M' (made, for instance, of leather) with a ring M2, surrounding the toothed rim J loosely to allow the rim to swing relatively to the cent-ral case M. Balls C2 are placed between the rim J and ring M2. The case M has vertical slots h 2 for the passage of the rods F. The protecting-case and its connections are shown in Fig. 2 only.

It will be seen that each wheel has its own motor, thus rendering the use of differential gearing unnecessary; also, since the motor swings with the wheel in the steering motion of the latter the position of the motor with respect to the wheel is always the same and a very simple construction is the result.

In some cases it may be desirable to secure greater elasticity to reduce jars, particularly with powerful and heavy motors. To this end I may provide springsN N on the pivots G of the motor-frame H, the springs N being interposed between said 'frame and the fork members B4, while the springs N are located around the pivots Gr exteriorly of the fork IOO members. Adjusting screws Or nuts O permit Of varying the tension of the springs N N. The pivots G are longer than the pivots G, hereinbefore described,and slide up and down in the fork members B4, it being understood that the motor-frame I-I is properly spaced from the fork members for this purpose.

Having thus fully described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a horseless carriage, the combination of a wheel having a toothed ring, a motor having its drive-shaft located centrally relatively to said ring, and driving connections from said shaft to a plurality of points of the said ring.

2. In a horseless carriage, a running-gear having on each side driving` ground-wheels mounted to rotate about axes capable of swingingabout vertical pivots, and motors mounted to swing with the wheels in their steering movement, and having their driveshafts located centrally of the said wheels.

3. In a horseless carriage, a running-gear having on each side driving ground-wheels mounted to rotate about axes capable of swinging about vertical pivots, separate motors for the driving-wheels located on Opposite sides of the carriage, each motor being mounted to swing with the respective wheel, and having its drive-shaft located centrally of the said wheel, and transmission mechanism from said drive-shaft to a plurality of points Of the wheel.

4t. In a horseless carriage, the combination of the axle having super-posed fork members at its ends, a frame pivotally supported between said fork members, a wheel-axle projecting outwardly from said frame, a motorshaft journaled in said frame, a pinion on said shaft, gear-wheels meshing with said pinion and journaled on the said frame,and a groundwheel journaled On said wheel-axle and provided with a toothed rim meshing with said gear-wheels.

5. In a horseless carriage, the combination of the body of the running-gear, frames piv- Otally connected with the said body On each side to swing about vertical axes, a wheelaxle projected outwardly from each frame, a motor-shaft journaled in said frame, a pinion On said shaft, gear-wheels meshing with said pinion and journaled on the said frame, and a ground-wheel jOurnaled on said wheel-axle and provided with a toothed rim meshing with said gear-wheels.

6. In a horseless carriage, a running-gear body, 'fram es provided' with axles and mounted to swing on the body about vertical axes, a wheel journaled on each of the axles, and a case having a rigid central portion, and flexible side portions arranged to follow the swinging movement of the said frames.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ENRIQUE SANCHIS.

Witnesses:

Jol-1N LOTTA, EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL. 

